Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

A Priest’s Preparation for Holy Mass (Part 2)

Next the priest puts on the alb which is a white linen robe that covers his entire body. It is also worn by the deacon and sub-deacon. While putting it on, he says, “Purify me, O Lord, from all stain and cleanse my heart, that washed in the blood of the Lamb, I may enjoy eternal delight.” This makes allusion to the vision of Saint John in his Apocalypse where he sees the white robed martyrs who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. The alb signifies the excellent purity of our Lord and of the priest’s need to be purified by the redeeming death of our Lord in order to minister at his holy altar.

Then the priest attaches around his waist the cincture, a cord or rope made usually of silk and often in the same liturgical color as the other vestments. It too is worn by the deacon and sub-deacon. He prays while attaching it, “Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of purity, and quench in my heart the fire of concupiscence, that the virtue of continence and chastity may remain in me.” The priest, just like all the faithful, has the remains of concupiscence in him to combat and bring under domination. He must ask the Lord for that special grace to overcome any movements of the flesh and to keep unyielding his solemn promise of perfect and perpetual chastity offered to God in his sub-deaconate ordination.

After that, the priest puts on the maniple on his left forearm. The maniple is a long silk band of the liturgical color of the other vestments; it also is worn by the deacon and sub-deacon. The vesting prayer for this garment is “Let me deserve, O Lord, to bear the maniple of tears and sorrow, so that one day I may come with joy into the reward of my labors.”     Formerly, this garment was a sort of handkerchief used to wipe the sweat off one’s brow, and so it is associated with labor and hard work. The priest’s work is to sanctify, govern, absolve from sin and most especially to offer the sacrifice. The maniple is worn exclusively during Mass the summit and glory of the priest’s work, and for this reason it is not worn outside of the Mass, such as at the Asperges or the sermon.

So far, the sacred vestments we have mentioned are worn by all the sacred ministers, that is, the priest, deacon, and    sub-deacon. But now we will consider the stole which signifies the power of Orders. It is worn by the priest and the   deacon. While putting on the stole, they recite the following prayer reminiscent of the Fall of our first parents and the loss of immortality caused by Adam’s sin, “Restore to me, O Lord, the state of  immortality which was lost to me by my first parents, and although unworthy to approach Thy sacred mysteries, grant me nevertheless eternal joy.” The stole is always worn while the priest or deacon administers the sacraments or imparts blessings. It is not worn in the same    fashion by the different ministers. The deacon wears it on the left shoulder and attaches it diagonally under the right arm. The simple priest wears it around the neck allowing the extremities to hang down in front. When he wears the alb, he crosses the stole over his chest. The bishop, on the other hand, always wears it so the extremities hand down directly.

The mass vestment par excellence is the chasuble. It is worn uniquely by the celebrant of the Mass. While vesting with it the priest prays, “O lord, Who hast said, ‘My yoke is sweet and my burden light,’ grant that I may carry it so as to obtain Thy grace.” The chasuble represents the sovereign charity of Christ who particularly in his sacrifice and death on the cross demonstrates his great love for his Church of which we are the members.

Canon William Avis, Rector, Old St. Patrick Oratory

(To be continued - Part 3 will discuss the vestments that the bishop wears during the Pontifical Mass.)

Seminary Collection

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